Artista: Dj Shadow Album: The Mountain Will Fall

Anno: 2016
Tempo: 0:0-1

The Mountain Will Fall: Dj Shadow's Experimentation in Electronic Music

Dj Shadow is no stranger to experimenting with different sounds. He is an American music producer, DJ, and composer who rose to fame in the 1990s for pioneering an electronic music sub-genre known as instrumental hip hop. His music is a fusion of samples from various genres, including jazz, funk, and soul, mixed with electronic beats. One of his most recent musical ventures is the album The Mountain Will Fall, which was released in 2016. In this blog post, we will delve into the album, discuss its context, the best tracks, and offer some critiques.

The Mountain Will Fall is Dj Shadow's fifth studio album, released through the Mass Appeal Records label. It features 12 tracks with collaborators including Run the Jewels, Nils Frahm, and Matthew Halsall. The album's inspiration lies in our world's political climate, and it is no surprise that the music feels heavy, dark, and brooding. Dj Shadow takes his listeners on a journey through electronic soundscapes with intricate beats, samples, and instrumental tracks that ease the album's fragmented feel.

One of the album's standout tracks is Nobody Speak which features rap duo Run the Jewels. Here, the duo's politically charged lyrics about corruption and power mesh well with Dj Shadow's electronic experimentation. Ashes to Oceans shimmers with melancholia and the piano croons pensive notes against the beats that underscore the track. Depth Charge is another masterpiece that is bound to take listeners to a whole other dimension filled with cosmic beats.

While The Mountain Will Fall is an exceptional album, it is not without its critique. Some critics argue that it lacks the punch that Dj Shadow is known for or that the tracks feel repetitive and uninspired compared to his previous works. Others argue that it is a departure from his early work, and it seems Dj Shadow is more interested in sound experimentation than the experimental beats he's known for. While these critiques are valid, it is still a testament to Dj Shadow's creativity that he can experiment with different sounds and genres and still produce music that is unique and original.

The Mountain Will Fall is an ambitious project that showcases Dj Shadow's ability to evolve and take chances with his music. The album is an exploration of the different electronic soundscapes, including ambient, trip-hop, and downtempo, that he has experimented with to create something entirely new. It is an album that requires more than one listen to appreciate the intricate samples, the unruly beats, and the political undertones of the tracks. Overall, The Mountain Will Fall is a successful experiment, and it is one album that enthusiasts of electronic music should add to their collection.